Females are highly encouraged to Apply. 

Our programmes in South Sudan offer services and goods in Protection from Violence, Information Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA), Livelihoods and Food Security, Education, Shelter, and WASH. In line with NRC global direction, NRC established the Protection from Violence programme in South Sudan in 2022 to shift from protection mainstreaming only to specialised protection activities in response to humanitarian needs.

What we are looking for: The Protection Specialist is responsible for the design, development, and implementation of the NRC Protection from Violence programme in South Sudan and leads NRC Protection position vis-à-vis relevant coordination and decision-making fora. The Protection Specialist provides expertise and is responsible for strategic advice, programme development, technical support and capacity building to field staff. The Protection Specialist is responsible for identifying priority protection issues, building Protection capacities, technical guiding the specialised protection programme and developing and guide the implementation of protection strategies and plans. The Protection Specialist will develop strong working relationships with NRC field, programme and management teams and external Protection actors. What you will do:

Key objectives for this role include:

1. Provide technical guidance to the implementation of the Protection from Violence strategy and macro-log frame that are aligned with regional and global strategies and priorities.
2. Compliance with and adherence to NRC policies, guidance, and procedures.
3. Contribute to fundraising, develop, and revise funding proposals, budgets, and donor reports.
4. Identify trends, technical standards, and donor priorities.
5. Follow up on compliance with contractual commitments within Protection from Violence, ensure high
6. technical quality and synergies in project implementation.

Specific Responsibilities:

Programme development

• Oversee and lead the start-up of Protection from Violence programme in South Sudan Country Office including leading the development, update, and dissemination of Protection from Violence strategy.
• Lead the expansion of NRC’s Protection from Violence portfolio in South Sudan through the development of sound and evidence-based concept notes, proposals and budgets for new and existing projects in close coordination with relevant programme and support staff.

Programme Management and technical quality 

• Provide overall technical leadership and management to the Protection portfolio in line with the South Sudan Country strategy and Protection from Violence strategy.
• Responsible for providing technical and implementation support and guidance to field-based Protection staff in implementing NRC project(s), including but not limited to providing instructions on work plans, approving expenses/procurement, recruitments, reporting, etc.
• Ensure monitoring data is collected, analysed, included in NRC’s M&E systems, and used to adapt programmes as required.

Technical oversight and capacity building

• Ensure all Protection interventions are compliant with international protection standards, Protection strategy and NRC minimum standards, policies and strategies.
• Developing technical standard operating procedures, guidelines, tools, etc. in close coordination with the Regional/Global Protection Adviser

Logistics, Finance, and Human Resource

• Ensure appropriate NRC Financial and Logistical systems/procedures are adhered to within the Protection unit.
• Ensure timely and accurate development of procurement plans, recruitment plans, and spending plans and ensure the same is shared with relevant support colleagues.

Coordination and Representation

• Represent NRC in external coordination for a including national level Protection Cluster coordination activities/meetings and other relevant sector-specific meetings and coordination fora.
• Develop and promote good coordination and working relationships with Protection actors and other key stakeholders in South Sudan including government actors, UN agencies, N/INGOs.

Please download the detailed job description to learn more about the position. As the above responsibilities are just a snapshot.

What you will bring:

Generic professional competencies: 

• At least five years in humanitarian Protection programming environment, including three years’ experience in a senior level project or programme management position.
• Experience in implementing/overseeing specialised protection service delivery.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (law, social sciences or related disciplines). An advanced academic qualification will be an added advantage.
• Clear understanding of protection issues, legal frameworks and professional standards in humanitarian and displacement contexts. Knowledge of relevant legal and policy frameworks, international and domestic laws, with focus on International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights.
• Previous experience working in protracted emergencies including in complex and volatile contexts
• Knowledge of the protection context in South Sudan will be an added advantage.
• Knowledge and skills in information management especially protection related IM systems.
• Ability to coordinate tasks and work processes and work with short deadlines.
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal.
• Computer literacy in Microsoft Office, including strong skills in Word, Excel and Outlook.

Context/ Specific skills, knowledge and experience: 

• Knowledge of the context in South Sudan preferred.
• Experience with start-up or expansion of new programmes and programme development.
• Experience leading stand-alone protection programmes, protection assessments.
• Experience or working knowledge of the Protection information management system.
• Ability to work effectively across cultures, in sensitive environments and with different stakeholders.

What we offer

• Duty station: Juba_ South Sudan
• Contract: international contract, 12 months with possible extension
• Travel: up to 30%.
• Salary/benefits: grade 9 on NRC’s international salary scale.
• NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.
• We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC

Important information about the application process

• To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email or click on Opportunity MarketPlace.
• When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your passport. Complete all the system-required fields for experience, employment history and education.
• Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.
• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We receive many applicants for each vacant position.
• All nationalities are encouraged to apply.
• If you have any questions about this role, please email ESA Recruitment [email protected] with the job title as the subject line.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

Over two-thirds of South Sudan’s 8.9 million people need humanitarian assistance. Deteriorating humanitarian conditions have been worsened by climate, conflict and economic shocks, the effects of Covid-19, and gender-based violence. Protection concerns remain high, with people impacted by violence having limited access to justice and the rule of law.

Continued conflict and instability in the country combined with flooding have resulted in large-scale internal and cross-border displacement. Over two million people are internally displaced (55 per cent of whom are women and girls). An additional 2.3 million South Sudanese remain refugees hosted in neighbouring countries.

Prolonged flooding, due to abnormal rainfall, impacts agriculture and intensifies existing vulnerabilities of affected people. In 2022, an estimated 8.3 million people are experiencing severe food insecurity as shocks are intensifying. The cumulative impact of recurrent flooding also contributed to the destruction and damage to water facilities, leaving vulnerable people in urgent need of WASH services and limited access to basic services including health and education.

We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:

• Do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.
• Join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.
• Be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.

Learn more about NRC